Division of Diversity and Community Engagement
The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) works with a broad range of student, faculty, staff and community constituents to make the University of Texas at Austin a national model for diversity in higher education. The division strives to create an inclusive community on campus that fosters an open and robust learning environment that supports all students, faculty and staff. The division includes more than fifty units, programs, and projects, including twenty offices and two research centers.
The Division works in four strategic areas: Campus Culture, Community Engagement, Pre-K-16 Education Pipeline and Research.
Campus Diversity and Strategic Initiatives (CDSI) coordinates the Campus Climate Response Team and online campus climate reporting system . The Diversity Education Initiative is housed under CDSI and provides diversity training to departments on campus and organizations outside the University.
The Office of Institutional Equity aids the University in fulfilling the intent and spirit of equal opportunity laws by providing equitable resolutions to complaints and striving for an environment free of discrimination.
The Community Engagement Center in East Austin serves as a center for community activities and houses the Regional Foundation Library, which offers services helping students, faculty members, and the public find funding for research projects and nonprofit activities. The center also houses the Free Minds program and the Social Justice Institute.
The Pre-College Academic Readiness Initiative helps students from underrepresented groups across the state prepare for college through such programs as Neighborhood Longhorns, SPURS, University Outreach, and ChemBridge.
The Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium uses entrepreneurship as a method for promoting student success on campus, collaboration among disciplines, and student impact on community issues through internship and mentoring opportunities.
The Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence offers a variety of programs and services to assist University students, including the Gateway Scholars Programs, the McNair Scholars Program and the Longhorn Link program.
Services for Students with Disabilities works to ensure that all students have equal access to the University’s programs and services. Eligibility and specific accommodations are based on appropriate documentation and individual student needs.
The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health funds and advocates for programs in mental health service research and public policy analysis.
Student Diversity Initiatives works with students to create safe environments through two centers: the Gender and Sexuality Center, which provides resources for all members of the campus community to explore and organize around issues of gender and sexuality through education and outreach, and the Multicultural Engagement Center, which develops and provides training to students on the multicultural and diverse society in which we live.
The Texas Center for Education Policy is a University-wide policy center that advances research-based policies that promote equity and excellence in public elementary, secondary, and higher education.
Through Thematic Faculty Hiring Initiatives, DDCE collaborates with colleges and departments across campus to identify underrepresented areas of scholarship and then to find faculty members to fill them. Thematic Faculty Hiring Initiatives also includes a faculty fellows program that provides funding to faculty members conducting research that is linked to the community.
The University Interscholastic League, created to provide leadership and guidance to public school debate and athletics teachers, has grown into the largest organization of its kind in the world.
The University of Texas Elementary School is a research-based demonstration school that serves as a training and development site for future teachers, school nurses, speech therapists, social workers, counselors, and psychologists.
The Volunteer and Service Learning Center coordinates and supports volunteer and service learning opportunities for University students and faculty and staff members.